Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
Appendix 4
Conduct of Oral Examinations for Research Degrees and Related Matters
Guidelines and Checklist for Examiners for MPhil and PhD degrees
Eligibility to Examine
1
Examiners are asked to inform the Academic Registrar if they have had any connections with the
candidate or his/her supervisor/adviser which they consider would make it desirable for the College to
reconsider the appropriateness of their appointment as one of the examiners. These connections
could be either personal or professional. Of the latter it is considered, for example, that an examiner,
whether internal or external, who has played a significant part in advising the candidate is
inappropriate and particularly so where the collaboration has led to the publishing of papers by the
candidate and the examiner jointly. It is stressed that it is accepted that examiners will usually be
acquainted with the supervisor, and sometimes the candidate, and that this in itself is not a bar to
acting as an examiner. Any connections so notified will be considered by the Academic Registrar in
consultation, as appropriate, with the Director of the Graduate School.
Timetable for Examination
2
In the interests of the candidate the College expects that the examination will be completed and that
the examiners will have submitted their final joint report and other relevant documents to the College
within three months of the despatch of the thesis to the examiners. If there is difficulty in complying
with this request, please inform the College Registry ([email protected]) (See also
paragraphs 31-32).
Preliminary Independent Reports
3
Each examiner is asked to write an independent preliminary report on the thesis. It is expected that
this will be written by each examiner after reading the thesis but before conferring with the coexaminer about it. Typically the preliminary report identifies particular areas which the examiner
believes should be explored with the candidate during the oral examination, and, if possible, a
tentative recommendation, based on an assessment of the thesis, for the result of the examination.
Tentative recommendations should not be indicated to the candidate in advance of the oral, which is
an integral component of the examination.
4
The examiners should exchange their preliminary reports with each other before conducting the oral
examination. The preliminary reports must be submitted to the College at the conclusion of the
examination process (see paragraph 32).
5
If the examiners have any queries about the thesis which they wish to raise with the supervisor in
advance of the oral examination, they are at liberty to do so. If the examiners have any queries about
the College’s requirements for the award of the PhD and about the regulations please contact the
College Registry ([email protected]). Please note that all matters relating to the
examination are confidential and examiners should not contact any third party, other than the
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Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
supervisor as provided for in the regulations and this guidance. Otherwise all queries must be
pursued through the College Registry ([email protected]).
6
The educational needs provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act require institutions to make
reasonable adjustments for candidates with physical and special learning difficulties in their
assessment. Examiners will be advised of any special arrangements for a candidate with their
appointment letters. However, if examiners are informed directly by the supervisor or candidate of any
disability, even in confidence, they should seek the advice of the College Registry
([email protected]), in order that they might be properly briefed.
Oral Examination
7
An oral examination must be held other than in those circumstances for which provision is made in
the regulations (i.e. on resubmission of a thesis following referral).
8
When the thesis is despatched to the examiners the candidate’s supervisor is asked to contact the
examiners and the candidate to arrange and confirm a mutually convenient time and place to hold the
oral examination.
9
The College makes no special requirements about where the oral examination is held (other than a
normal requirement that it be held at one of the College campuses). The oral is frequently held in the
office of the supervisor or the internal examiner if that is convenient. The College Registry
([email protected]) should be contacted by the supervisor or one of the examiners if it
is proposed that the examination is to be held away from one of the College campuses. The holding
of an oral examination by telephone or by video-conferencing is not normally permitted, and any
enquiries about this should be addressed in the first instance to the College Registry
([email protected]).
10
The supervisor may not attend the oral examination, unless invited by the candidate to attend as an
observer.
11
The examiners should indicate in the appropriate place on the result sheet the date of the oral
examination and whether or not the supervisor was present.
12
Normally no persons other than the examiners, one supervisor and the candidate may be present at
an oral examination but, in exceptional circumstances and also in the early stages of a joint or
collaborative degree programme, the Rector may appoint an independent observer to attend a
candidate’s viva.
13
The purpose of the oral examination is to examine the candidate on the subject of the thesis and, if
the examiners see fit, on subjects relevant thereto. The examiners should discuss, prior to meeting
the candidate, the strategy they propose to adopt during the oral examination and, at its outset,
outline this to the candidate.
14
During the oral the examiners should seek to establish whether all the requirements for a thesis
submitted for the PhD have been met (these are set out in the Academic Regulations), and that the
thesis is genuinely the work of the candidate.
2
Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
15
If the examiners have any doubts that the thesis is genuinely the work of the candidate they should
contact the College Registry ([email protected]).
16
There are no set requirements about the conduct of oral examinations, nor about their duration, but
they should be conducted in such a way that the candidate has adequate opportunity, encouragement
and time to explain his/her research and to defend the thesis. It is recommended that, during a long
oral examination, examiners should allow short break(s) at appropriate point(s) (see also paragraph
45).
17
The supervisor, if present, does not have the right to participate in the examination but may contribute
if invited to do so by the examiners.
18
If the candidate becomes so unwell or distressed during the oral examination as to be unable to
proceed, the examiners should, after such consultation with the candidate and supervisor as is
possible at that time, decide whether or not to continue the oral examination. If they do continue it,
they should note in their final report that the candidate was unwell. If they decide not to continue they
should determine whether sufficient evidence has been provided to allow a decision to be taken or
whether it will be necessary to hold the oral examination on another occasion.
19
If the candidate makes comments to the examiners, which put them under moral pressure (eg
alluding to the consequences of failure for him/her), or offers any kind of incentive to the examiners to
pass him/her, the examination should be terminated and a report made to the Academic Registrar.
20
At the conclusion of the oral examination the candidate and the supervisor (if present) should
withdraw and the examiners should initially confer together on the result in private.
21
The examiners have discretion, after the initial private discussion, to consult the supervisor
irrespective of whether he/she was present at the oral, particularly if they have doubts relating to the
appropriate decision to be made.
22
It is recognised that the examiners may wish, particularly if their decision is that the candidate has
passed, or will pass subject to making minor amendments to the thesis, to advise the candidate orally
and informally of their decision at the conclusion of their deliberations following the oral. Examiners
are advised to exercise particular care if they do this, and always to make clear to the candidate that
the result is not formal and final until notified by letter from the College to the candidate after the
examiners have submitted their written report and all other requirements have been satisfied [see also
paragraphs 35 and 36 below].
The Result of the Examination
23 The options open to the examiners in determining the result are set out in the Academic Regulations.
These, in summary, are:
(a) Pass.
3
Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
(b) Pass, subject to minor amendments to be completed and checked by one or both of the examiners
within 3 months1.
(c) Not pass, but candidate allowed to rewrite the thesis and resubmit it within 18 months for
examination by the same examiners (an oral examination need not be held on re-entry).
(d) Not pass, but be allowed to submit to a further oral examination within 18 months on the same
thesis and by the same examiners.
(e) Fail PhD, but either has met the requirements for the MPhil or might after revision of the thesis
during a 12 month period be able to meet the requirements for the MPhil.
(f) Outright fail. No further entry to the PhD or MPhil degree will be allowed.
24
Examiners should not consider option (e) unless they have first considered and rejected as
inapplicable the preceding options; and should not consider option (f) unless they have previously
considered and rejected as inapplicable all the previous options (see also paragraphs 28 and 29).
Reporting to the College on the Examination
25 The package of documents sent by the College Registry ([email protected]) to all of
the examiners will include a Report form. The examiners are required to complete and sign this form
indicating, inter alia, which of the six available decisions they have made; AND they are required to
write a joint report giving the grounds on which their decision is based. The joint report should be on a
separate sheet and should include the following at the beginning:
(i) candidate’s name; and
(ii) thesis title; and at the end:
(iii) the signatures of each of the examiners; and
(iv) date.
26
The report should have regard to the requirements of a thesis for the PhD (see the Academic
Regulations). It should not cross-refer to the examiners’ preliminary reports unless the examiners
wish the candidate to be sent a copy of those preliminary reports (see paragraph 36 below).
27
If the examiners decide to refer the candidate to revise and resubmit the thesis for the PhD in 18
months, they should indicate in what ways the current thesis fails to satisfy the requirements for the
PhD degree, and should indicate clearly, although not necessarily in detail, the revisions which they
consider should be made.
1
The examiners may require the candidate to make specified minor amendments to their satisfaction within three months. The amendments
required should be set out clearly, normally in writing, and normally be provided within two weeks of the oral examination. The examiners (or one of
their number nominated by them) may arrange directly with the candidate for the amendments to be made. The examiners may, however, wish this
to be arranged through the College Registry. In either case the examiners should complete the Report form (see paras 25 and 32) and return it, with
the required enclosures, to the College Registry normally within two weeks of the oral.
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Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
28
If examiners who are referring a candidate to revise and resubmit the thesis in 18 months have
agreed that it will definitely not be necessary to conduct an oral on the revised thesis, they may so
indicate in their joint report. If they will definitely require an oral on the resubmitted thesis they should
so indicate; and if they wish to reserve their position until they have read the revised thesis they
should state this.
29
If the examiners decide that the criteria for the MPhil have been, or might be satisfied they should:
(i) indicate the basis for their decision not to allow resubmission for the PhD,
and
(ii) indicate in a positive way how the requirements for a thesis for the MPhil (set out in the
Academic Regulations) are satisfied or (if they are recommending that the thesis be revised and
resubmitted for examination for the MPhil degree) how the criteria for the MPhil might be
satisfied.
(The MPhil Degree of Imperial College is an award in its own right and may not be awarded unless the
criteria for that degree are satisfied. It is not awarded as compensation for a failed PhD.)
30
If the examiners’ decision is to fail the candidate outright, they should indicate the basis for their
decision to reject all the other options open to them.
31
The examiners are asked to agree between themselves at the end of the oral examination the
arrangements for drafting and finalising their joint report and for sending it, their preliminary reports,
and their copies of the thesis to the College Registry ([email protected]).
32
It is important for the candidate that the examiners complete the result sheet and send it, together
with their preliminary reports and their joint report, to the College Registry
([email protected]) as soon as possible after the completion of the oral examination.
Reports must normally be submitted within two weeks of the oral examination. If the examiners
have indicated on the result sheet that they require the candidate to make minor amendments, a
further form will be sent by the College Registry (to the examiner named on the result sheet if only
one, or the internal examiner if both examiners are to check the thesis) for certification that the criteria
for the degree (listed in paragraph 2 of the result sheet) and the minor amendments have been
completed satisfactorily. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the reports to be returned within two
weeks of the oral examination, one of the examiners should contact the College Registry
([email protected]) to discuss the problem.
33
PhD and MPhil degrees are formally awarded on the first day of each month. In order for the degree
to be awarded to the candidate in a particular month the examiners’ reports and two copies of the
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Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
corrected thesis (one hard bound and one electronic version) must have been received by College
Registry ([email protected]) by the last day of the preceding month in question2.
34
Examiners have the right to make comments in confidence in a separate report to the College (see
the Academic Regulations).
Notification to the Candidate
35 If the examiners reach a unanimous decision and there are no unresolved anomalies, that decision
will normally be conveyed to the candidate without prior reference to another committee. No official
notification of the result of the examination can be issued to the candidate or to any other authority
until the reports have been received and processed and any anomalies resolved.
36
A copy of the result sheet and the examiners’ joint report is routinely sent to the candidate when
he/she is officially informed by the Academic Registrar of his/her result. The candidate does not
normally see the examiners’ preliminary reports, but may do so if the examiners so request and will
do so in the event of his/her appealing against the examiners’ decision.
Examination of Re-entry Candidates
37 Unless it is impossible for them to do so, it is expected that the original examiners will examine the
candidate on re-entry whether to the PhD or to the MPhil.
38
In examining a re-entry candidate the examiners should have regard to the report they made on the
first examination, copies of which can be made available to them.
39
Examiners have discretion on whether or not to hold an oral examination on a revised and
resubmitted thesis, but will need to have regard to any statement they have made about this in their
joint report on the original examination (see paragraph 28).
40
When the revised thesis is despatched to the examiners the supervisor is asked to contact the
examiners to ask if an oral is required and, if so, to consult as necessary (see paragraphs 8 and 9
above).
41
Apart from the possibility of not holding an oral examination, the re-entry examination for the PhD is
subject to exactly the same rules and procedures as the original examination and all the decisions set
out in the Academic Regulations are open to the examiners. Although it is open to Examiners to
recommend a further referral to revise and resubmit the thesis, they are advised to be cautious about
this and, in particular, to consider the currency of the research contained in the thesis if re-examined
after a further 18-month period.
If the Examiners are not in Agreement or Require Further Assistance
42 The Examiners may request the appointment of a third examiner at any time if they consider it
desirable and should always do so before they report formally that they are unable to arrive at
2
University of London PhD and MPhil degrees are formally awarded on the last day of each month. In order for the degree to be awarded to the
candidate in a particular month the examiners’ reports and one hard copy of the corrected thesis must have been received by College Registry
([email protected]) by the last day of the month in question.
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Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
agreement.
In
these
circumstances
they
should
contact
([email protected]) for advice in the first instance.
the
College
Registry
Examiners’ Fees and Expenses
43 A fee of £150 is paid to the external examiner at the PhD following the initial examination and
following any subsequent re-entry examination after a referral. Payment is authorised automatically
on receipt of the examiners’ joint report.
44
Examiners external to Imperial College may claim travel and other expenses in accordance with the
relevant schedules. Claims should normally be submitted to the College Registry at the conclusion of
the examination, but may be submitted earlier where advance payment for tickets has been
necessary.
Equal Opportunities
45 All examinations of the College are subject to the College’s Equal Opportunities Policy, which may be
found at www.imperial.ac.uk/hr/equality. All candidates are subject to the same academic criteria and
requirements.
Appeals Procedure
46 The College has a Procedure for the Consideration of Appeals by Candidates for Research Degrees,
which may be found at:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/proceduresandregulations/policiesandprocedures.
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Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
Appendix 4
Conduct of Oral Examinations for Research Degrees and Related Matters
Guidelines and Checklist for Examiners for MD (Res) degrees
Eligibility to Examine
1
Examiners are asked to inform the Academic Registrar if they have had any connections with the
candidate or his/her supervisor/adviser which they consider would make it desirable for the College to
reconsider the appropriateness of their appointment as one of the examiners. These connections
could be either personal or professional. Of the latter it is considered, for example, that an examiner,
whether internal or external, who has played a significant part in advising the candidate is
inappropriate and particularly so where the collaboration has led to the publishing of papers by the
candidate and the examiner jointly. It is stressed that it is accepted that examiners will usually be
acquainted with the supervisor, and sometimes the candidate, and that this in itself is not a bar to
acting as an examiner. Any connections so notified will be considered by the Academic Registrar in
consultation, as appropriate, with the Director of the Graduate School.
Timetable for Examination
2
In the interests of the candidate the College expects that the examination will be completed and that
the examiners will have submitted their final joint report and other relevant documents to the College
within three months of the despatch of the thesis to the examiners. If there is difficulty in complying
with this request, please inform the College Registry ([email protected]) (See also
paragraphs 30-31).
Preliminary Independent Reports
3
Each examiner is asked to write an independent preliminary report on the thesis. It is expected that
this will be written by each examiner after reading the thesis but before conferring with the coexaminer about it. Typically the preliminary report identifies particular areas which the examiner
believes should be explored with the candidate during the oral examination, and, if possible, a
tentative recommendation, based on an assessment of the thesis, for the result of the examination.
Tentative recommendations should not be indicated to the candidate in advance of the oral, which is
an integral component of the examination.
4
The examiners should exchange their preliminary reports with each other before conducting the oral
examination. The preliminary reports must be submitted to the College at the conclusion of the
examination process (see paragraph 31).
5
If the examiners have any queries about the thesis which they wish to raise with the supervisor in
advance of the oral examination, they are at liberty to do so. If the examiners have any queries about
the College’s requirements for the award of the MD (Res) and about the regulations please contact
the College Registry ([email protected]). Please note that all matters relating to the
examination are confidential and examiners should not contact any third party, other than the
supervisor as provided for in the regulations and this guidance. Otherwise all queries must be
pursued through the College Registry ([email protected]).
8
Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
6
The educational needs provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act require institutions to make
reasonable adjustments for candidates with physical and special learning difficulties in their
assessment. Examiners will be advised of any special arrangements for a candidate with their
appointment letters. However, if examiners are informed directly by the supervisor or candidate of any
disability, even in confidence, they should seek the advice of the College Registry
([email protected]), in order that they might be properly briefed.
Oral Examination
7
An oral examination must be held other than in those circumstances for which provision is made in
the regulations (ie on resubmission of a thesis following referral).
8
When the thesis is despatched to the examiners the candidate’s supervisor is asked to contact the
examiners and the candidate to arrange and confirm a mutually convenient time and place to hold the
oral examination.
9
The College makes no special requirements about where the oral examination is held (other than a
normal requirement that it be held at one of the College campuses). The oral is frequently held in the
office of the supervisor or the internal examiner if that is convenient. The College Registry
([email protected]) should be contacted by the supervisor or one of the examiners if it
is proposed that the examination is to be held away from one of the College campuses. The holding
of an oral examination by telephone or by video-conferencing is not normally permitted, and any
enquiries about this should be addressed in the first instance to the College Registry
([email protected]).
10
The supervisor may not attend the oral examination, unless invited by the candidate to attend as an
observer.
11
The examiners should indicate in the appropriate place on the result sheet the date of the oral
examination and whether or not the supervisor was present.
12
Normally no persons other than the examiners, one supervisor and the candidate may be present at
an oral examination but, in exceptional circumstances and also in the early stages of a joint or
collaborative degree programme, the Rector may appoint an independent observer to attend a
candidate’s viva.
13
The purpose of the oral examination is to examine the candidate on the subject of the thesis and, if
the examiners see fit, on subjects relevant thereto. The examiners should discuss, prior to meeting
the candidate, the strategy they propose to adopt during the oral examination and, at its outset,
outline this to the candidate.
14
During the oral the examiners should seek to establish whether all the requirements for a thesis
submitted for the MD (Res) have been met (these are set out in the Regulations for the award of MD
(Res) Degrees), and that the thesis is genuinely the work of the candidate.
15
If the examiners have any doubts that the thesis is genuinely the work of the candidate they should
contact the College Registry ([email protected]).
9
Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
16
There are no set requirements about the conduct of oral examinations, nor about their duration, but
they should be conducted in such a way that the candidate has adequate opportunity, encouragement
and time to explain his/her research and to defend the thesis. It is recommended that, during a long
oral examination, examiners should allow short break(s) at appropriate point(s) (see also paragraph
44).
17
The supervisor, if present, does not have the right to participate in the examination but may contribute
if invited to do so by the examiners.
18
If the candidate becomes so unwell or distressed during the oral examination as to be unable to
proceed, the examiners should, after such consultation with the candidate and supervisor as is
possible at that time, decide whether or not to continue the oral examination. If they do continue it,
they should note in their final report that the candidate was unwell. If they decide not to continue they
should determine whether sufficient evidence has been provided to allow a decision to be taken or
whether it will be necessary to hold the oral examination on another occasion.
19
If the candidate makes comments to the examiners, which put them under moral pressure (eg
alluding to the consequences of failure for him/her), or offers any kind of incentive to the examiners to
pass him/her, the examination should be terminated and a report made to the Academic Registrar.
20
At the conclusion of the oral examination the candidate and the supervisor (if present) should
withdraw and the examiners should initially confer together on the result in private.
21
The examiners have discretion, after the initial private discussion, to consult the supervisor
irrespective of whether he/she was present at the oral, particularly if they have doubts relating to the
appropriate decision to be made.
22
It is recognised that the examiners may wish, particularly if their decision is that the candidate has
passed, or will pass subject to making minor amendments to the thesis, to advise the candidate orally
and informally of their decision at the conclusion of their deliberations following the oral. Examiners
are advised to exercise particular care if they do this, and always to make clear to the candidate that
the result is not formal and final until notified by letter from the College to the candidate after the
examiners have submitted their written report and all other requirements have been satisfied [see also
paragraphs 34 and 35 below].
The Result of the Examination
23 The options open to the examiners in determining the result are set out in the Regulations for the MD
(Res) degrees. These, in summary, are:
(a) Pass.
10
Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
(b) Pass, subject to minor amendments to be completed and checked by one or both of the
examiners within 3 months1.
(c) Not pass, but candidate allowed to rewrite the thesis and resubmit it within 18 months for
examination by the same examiners (an oral examination need not be held on re-entry).
(d) Not pass, but be allowed to submit to a further oral examination within 18 months on the same
thesis and by the same examiners.
(e) Outright fail. No further entry to the MD(Res) degree will be allowed.
24
Examiners should not consider option (e) unless they have first considered and rejected as
inapplicable the preceding options;
Reporting to the College on the Examination
25
The package of documents sent by the College Registry ([email protected]) to all
examiners will include a Report form. The examiners are required to complete and sign this form
indicating, inter alia, which of the five available decisions they have made; AND they are required to
write a joint report giving the grounds on which their decision is based. The joint report should be on a
separate sheet and should include the following at the beginning:
(i) candidate’s name (and College); and
(ii) thesis title; and at the end:
(iii) the signatures of each of the examiners; and
(iv) date.
26
The report should have regard to the requirements of a thesis for the MD(Res) (see the Regulations
for the award of MD(Res) Degrees). It should not cross-refer to the examiners’ preliminary reports
unless the examiners wish the candidate to be sent a copy of those preliminary reports (see
paragraph 35 below).
27
If the examiners decide to refer the candidate to revise and resubmit the thesis for the MD(Res) in 18
months, they should indicate in what ways the current thesis fails to satisfy the requirements for the
MD(Res) degree, and should indicate clearly, although not necessarily in detail, the revisions which
they consider should be made.
1
The examiners may require the candidate to make specified minor amendments to their satisfaction within three months. The amendments
required should be set out clearly, normally in writing, and normally be provided within two weeks of the oral examination. The examiners (or one of
their number nominated by them) may arrange directly with the candidate for the amendments to be made. The examiners may, however, wish this
to be arranged through the College Registry. In either case the examiners should complete the Report form (see paras 25 and 31) and return it, with
the required enclosures, to the College Registry normally within two weeks of the oral.
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Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
28
If examiners who are referring a candidate to revise and resubmit the thesis in 18 months have
agreed that it will definitely not be necessary to conduct an oral on the revised thesis, they may so
indicate in their joint report. If they will definitely require an oral on the resubmitted thesis they should
so indicate; and if they wish to reserve their position until they have read the revised thesis they
should state this.
29
If the examiners’ decision is to fail the candidate outright, they should indicate the basis for their
decision to reject all the other options open to them.
30
The examiners are asked to agree between themselves at the end of the oral examination the
arrangements for drafting and finalising their joint report and for sending it, their preliminary reports,
and their copies of the thesis to the College Registry ([email protected]).
31
It is important for the candidate that the examiners complete the result sheet and send it, together
with their preliminary reports and their joint report, to the College Registry
([email protected]) as soon as possible after the completion of the oral examination.
Reports must normally be submitted within two weeks of the oral examination. If the examiners
have indicated on the result sheet that they require the candidate to make minor amendments, a
further form will be sent by the College Registry (to the examiner named on the result sheet if only
one, or the internal examiner if both examiners are to check the thesis) for certification that the criteria
for the degree (listed in paragraph 2 of the result sheet) and the minor amendments have been
completed satisfactorily. If, for any reason, it is not possible for the reports to be returned within two
weeks of the oral examination, one of the examiners should contact the College Registry
([email protected]) to discuss the problem.
32
MD(Res) degrees are formally awarded on the first day of each month. In order for the degree to be
awarded to the candidate in a particular month the examiners’ reports and two copies of the corrected
thesis (one hard bound and electronic version) must have been received by College Registry
([email protected]) by the last day of the preceding month in question.2
33
Examiners have the right to make comments in confidence in a separate report to the College (see
the Regulations for the award of MD(Res) Degrees).
Notification to the Candidate
34 If the examiners reach a unanimous decision and there are no unresolved anomalies, that decision
will normally be conveyed to the candidate without prior reference to another committee. No official
notification of the result of the examination can be issued to the candidate or to any other authority
until the reports have been received and processed and any anomalies resolved.
35
A copy of the result sheet and the examiners’ joint report is routinely sent to the candidate when
he/she is officially informed by the Academic Registrar of his/her result. The candidate does not
normally see the examiners’ preliminary reports, but may do so if the examiners so request and will
do so in the event of his/her appealing against the examiners’ decision.
2
University of London MD (Res) degrees are formally awarded on the last day of each month. In order for the degree to be awarded to the
candidate in a particular month the examiners’ reports and one hard copy of the corrected thesis must have been received by College Registry
([email protected]) by the last day of the month in question.
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Imperial College London, Examination Regulations 2011/12
Examination of Re-entry Candidates
36 Unless it is impossible for them to do so, it is expected that the original examiners will examine the
candidate on re-entry.
37
In examining a re-entry candidate the examiners should have regard to the report they made on the
first examination, copies of which can be made available to them.
38
Examiners have discretion on whether or not to hold an oral examination on a revised and
resubmitted thesis, but will need to have regard to any statement they have made about this in their
joint report on the original examination (see paragraph 28).
39
When the revised thesis is despatched to the examiners the supervisor is asked to contact the
examiners to ask if an oral is required and, if so, to consult as necessary (see paragraphs 8 and 9
above).
40
Apart from the possibility of not holding an oral examination, the re-entry examination for the MD(Res)
is subject to exactly the same rules and procedures as the original examination and all the decisions
set out in the Regulations for the award of MD(Res) degrees are open to the examiners. Although it is
open to examiners to recommend a further referral to revise and resubmit the thesis, they are advised
to be cautious about this and, in particular, to consider the currency of the research contained in the
thesis if re-examined after a further 18-month period.
If the Examiners are not in Agreement or Require Further Assistance
41 The examiners may request the appointment of a third examiner at any time if they consider it
desirable and should always do so before they report formally that they are unable to arrive at
agreement.
In
these
circumstances
they
should
contact
the
College
Registry
([email protected]) for advice in the first instance.
Examiners’ Fees and Expenses
42 A fee of £150 is paid to the external examiner at the MD(Res) following the initial examination and
following any subsequent re-entry examination after a referral. Payment is authorised automatically
on receipt of the examiners’ joint report.
43
Examiners external to Imperial College may claim travel and other expenses in accordance with the
relevant schedules. Claims should normally be submitted to the College Registry at the conclusion of
the examination, but may be submitted earlier where advance payment for tickets has been
necessary.
Equal Opportunities
44 All examinations of the College are subject to the College’s Equal Opportunities Policy, which may be
found at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/hr/equality. All candidates are subject to the same academic
criteria and requirements.
Appeals Procedure
45 The College has a Procedure for the Consideration of Appeals by Candidates for Research Degrees,
which may be found at:
http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/proceduresandregulations/policiesandprocedures.
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